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Early this week, GoPro announced that it will relaunch its embattled Karma drone for retail. TechCrunch reports that the gadget is currently available on the company’s website and other retails like Best Buy, B&H Photo Video and Amazon. The GoPro Karma is currently priced at USD799 and is also being sold as part of a promo bundle with GoPro Hero 5 for USD1099.
Forbes said the GoPro Karma initially launched last year, but the device appeared to be faulty, with first-mover customers experiencing (and documenting) the problem. GoPro issued a product recall just sixteen days following the launch. Ahead of GoPro’s earnings call on Thursday, fans of the San Mateo, California-based company are expecting CEO Nicholas Woodman to discuss the reason why the Karma drone was faulty. Experts are saying that the most logical reason would be that the company is taking on a project that’s too big.
Craig Elder, an autonomous vehicle expert and former director of software engineering at drone startup 3D Robotics, told Forbes, “I wouldn’t say it’s the beginning of the end as they've already a couple steps down that path. Karma was their attempt to change direction, but like so many people, they underestimated how difficult it is to build an autonomous vehicle.”
GoPro has since explained that the first batch of Karma drones failed due to a latch mechanism, and that the current batches moving forward are now equipped with a new, secure design. But Fast Company cited analysts who said GoPro’s bid to capture the niche hardware game might be too late, especially if they’re going against current leader DJI. The Chinese company is known for its popular Mavic Pro, which entered the market right after the Karma recall and came in with more features.
Nonetheless, GoPro has since shrugged off the Karma recall and expressed confidence about their capability to capture the market once again with the new drone. A spokesperson said, "GoPro has a legacy in image capture and a passionate global user base. We are well positioned to compete in the drone market with Karma, which is a versatile and complete capture solution for aerial, handheld, and wearable image stabilization."
